DOWN HOLE SURVEYING

• US 20170306747A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reflex Instruments Asia Pacific Pty., Ltd. (Imdex Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Imdex Global B.V (Imdex Ltd.)
• Inventors: PARFITT, Richard, JABBAL, Guru, OTT, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 10,450,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/00 Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/022 of the borehole, e.g. using geomagnetism

Abstract

In one aspect, there is disclosed an apparatus for indexing a device about an indexing axis, the apparatus comprising an indexing drive mechanism comprising a drive portion configured in driving engagement with a driven member for indexing the device about the indexing axis. The driven member is arranged in operable association with an assembly comprising at least one resilient element arranged so as to be capable of transitioning to/from a state of bias such that exposure of the device to any undesirable physical forces is reduced to at least some extent.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indexing a device about an indexing axis, the apparatus comprising:

an indexing drive mechanism comprising a drive portion configured in driving engagement with a driven member for indexing the device about the indexing axis,

the driven member arranged in operable association with an assembly comprising at least one resilient element arranged so as to be capable of transitioning to/from a state of bias such that exposure of the device to any undesirable physical forces is reduced to at least some extent.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said assembly is configured so as to resiliently associate the driven member with a support, the support arranged so as to be fixed or restrained from movement relative the indexing axis.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the indexing mechanism is configured for indexing of the device between first and second index positions about the indexing axis, the first and second index positions configured so as to allow a scope of travel therebetween of about 180 degrees.

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driven member is of tubular form and arranged to surround a portion of a body of the device, the driven member and the body of the device aligned concentric with the indexing axis, the driven member and the device configured so as to be capable of rotation relative one another about the indexing axis.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the support is of tubular form and arranged so as to surround a portion of the body of the device adjacent to the driven member, the support and the second portion of the device aligned concentric with the indexing axis.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said assembly comprises first and second resilient coupling elements configured so as to resiliently couple the driven member with the support, the first and second resilient coupling elements arranged in a symmetrical manner about a region of the body relative to the indexing axis so as to provide an arrangement in which both resilient coupling elements co-operate to, at least in part, dampen or reduce any vibrational and/or shock forces which might be imparted to the device during operation.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first and second resilient coupling elements comprise opposite free ends, one free end of each of the first and second resilient coupling elements attached to the driven member adjacent each other, and the alternate free end of each of the first and second resilient coupling elements attached to the support adjacent each other, the points of attachment provided with the driven member substantially opposing the points of attachment provided with the support relative to the indexing axis.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and second resilient coupling elements are arranged having substantially equivalent tension so that their respective coupling or biasing forces existing between the driven member and the support are substantially equal when the device is at a position intermediate the first and second index positions.

9. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a limit means configured so as to confirm the device in the first or second index positions when indexed thereto.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the limit means comprises a stop member fixed relative to the device and projecting radially away therefrom, the limit means configured so that rotation of the device allows the stop member to be brought to bear against a first region of the support to confirm registration of the device in the first index position when indexed thereto, and against a second region of the support to confirm registration of the device in the second index position when indexed thereto.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first and second regions of the support are provided in the form of opposing regions of a circumferentially aligned slot provided with the support.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 6, wherein the driven member is operable with the first and second resilient coupling elements such that driving of the driven member beyond one of the first or second index positions causes the device to be biased to the intended index position when driving of the driven member is ceased.

13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is arranged to carry one or more sensors comprising any of the following:

accelerometers, gyroscopes, physical switches, magnetometers, vibration sensors, inclinometers, inductive RPM sensors.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is configured so as to carry the indexing drive mechanism.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the drive portion comprises a drive element configured for mounting with the device eccentrically relative to the indexing axis.

16. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein transfer of drive to the driven member is by way of a ring gear assembly having an annular ring gear associated with the driven member and operable with a pinion gear associated with the indexing drive mechanism.

17. A down hole surveying instrument comprising an apparatus arranged in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16.

28. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 27, wherein the instrument is a down hole surveying instrument according to claim 17.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the instrument is a down hole surveying instrument according to claim 17.

32. A method for operating an apparatus arranged for indexing a device about an indexing axis for use in a down hole surveying operation, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus arranged in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 16;

associating the apparatus with a down hole survey instrument so that the apparatus is operable therewith;

causing the apparatus to drive the device about the indexing axis to, toward, or from an index position.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the method comprises causing the apparatus to hold the device at an index position for a predetermined period of time before driving the device toward another index position so as to be held there at for about the predetermined period of time.

34. A method according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the method comprises causing the apparatus to reduce the speed of driving the device about the indexing axis as the device approaches an intended index position.

35. A method according to any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the method further comprises:

causing the apparatus to continue to drive the device in the direction of an intended index position once said intended index position has been reached; and

causing the apparatus to cease driving of the device such that the device is biased at the intended index position.

36. A method according to any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein the method comprises driving the device between a first index position and a second index position in a consecutive manner during the course of a predetermined period of time.

37. A method according to any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the method comprises causing the apparatus to drive the device to a park or inactive position, the apparatus configured in a manner in which exposure of the device to any undesirable physical forces when the device is in said park or inactive position is substantially reduced.

18. A method for performing a down hole surveying operation using a survey instrument, the method comprising:

recording data measured from a sensor when provided at a first measurement position and a second measurement position;

acknowledging the time the data was recorded by way of a first timer;

acknowledging by way of a second timer, a point in time during the surveying operation, the first and second timers arranged so as to be synchronised with one another; and

identifying data recorded after said recorded point in time for use in preparing a survey report.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein acknowledging the time the data was recorded by way of the first timer comprises associating the time the data was recorded with the corresponding recorded data.

20. A method according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the instrument alternates recording of measured data between the first and the second measurement positions (or vice versa) during a survey period.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the survey period is arranged to commence following insertion of the instrument into the hole.

22. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the first timer is associated with the instrument and the second timer is remote from the instrument during operation.

23. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the second timer is synchronised with the first timer associated with the instrument prior to insertion of the instrument into the borehole.

24. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the method includes the use of a controller module provided remote from the instrument during the surveying operation, the second timer being associated with the controller module.

25. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the sensor comprises a gyroscope.

26. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 25 when dependent on claim 20, wherein following retrieval of the instrument from the borehole, the recorded data is processed by the controller module for preparing the survey report.

27. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 26, wherein the survey report is prepared using data measured at the first measurement position and the second measurement position when taken in a consecutive manner.

31. A system according to claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the system is configured operable so as to carry out the method according to any one of claims 18 to 28.

29. A system for conducting a survey of a portion of a bore hole, the system comprising:

a survey instrument arranged for recording data measured from a sensor carried by the instrument when indexed between a first measurement position and a second measurement position during a survey period, the instrument having a first timer,

a controller module provided remote from the instrument, the controller module having a second timer arranged so as to be substantially synchronised with the first timer,

the controller module configured for identifying data recorded by the instrument from about a known point in time during the survey period, the controller module further configured for processing the identified data for providing a survey report.